"How Soldiers Killed Izu Joseph In His Wife's Presence" - Father Of Late Footballer

Army lied, JTF intentionally killed Izu Joseph in his wife's presence - Family


The family of Izu Joseph, the Shooting Star Sports Club player who was killed by military operatives in his hometown of Okaki, Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State on Sunday 16 October 2016, has spoken.

Joseph's father, in contrary to Army claims that the footballer was seen with cultists, blasted security operatives for shooting his son at close range.

Reuben Izu lamented:
"He was in Okaki with his wife before he died. He had planned to come to Port Harcourt where I live with his daughter.

"He went to the jetty area where we usually swim to have a quick shower on Sunday. It was while he was there that the men of the JTF raided the place and everybody ran helter-skelter, including Joseph.

"When the soldiers saw them running they began shooting sporadically and one of the bullets hit Joseph in the leg. As he was groaning with pain, one of the JTF men walked up to him and shot him a second time at a close range despite Joseph’s plea that he was a footballer on holiday in Okaki.

"His mobile phone and identity card were seized from him and we have not been able to retrieve them till now. The soldiers didn’t allow anybody to help him until he lost a lot of blood. After they left, he was taken to the hospital where he died due to loss of blood."